Friday, June 29, 2012

White Wedding Inspiration Board from Occasions In Print

Whether you are taking your inspiration from Billie Idol's "White Wedding" or just love the clean, crisp look of an all white wedding, Occasions In Print has the inspiration board to jump start your wedding planning.  From dresses, of course, to cakes, decorations and first and foremost the Wedding Invitations.  Here are a few of our favorites to consider when planning your white wedding.

http://www.weddingsbylilly.com/

White Wedding Invitation - Ivy on Simple White

http://www.twirlboutique.com/

White Wedding Invitation - Bridal Bliss

http://www.bellethemagazine.com/

White Wedding Invitation - Stately Elegance on Simple White - Letterpress

Thursday, June 28, 2012

2012 Wedding Invitation Trend - Watercolors

One of the softest trends to emerge from the 2012 Wedding Invitation Trends list is Wedding Invitations with watercolors.  This hand painted look is both elegant and refreshing.  The use of mulitple colors in a Watercolor Wedding Invitation also allows the bride to have a wide range of colors throughout the wedding decor and capture them all in the invitation.  Here are a few of our favorites.

Watercolor Wedding Invitation - Muted Watercolor

Watercolor Wedding Invitation - Painted Watercolor Flowers

Watercolor Wedding Invitation - Watercolor Style

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Tips for Selecting Bridesmaid Dresses and Keeping Your Sanity

Although the bride is the center of the wedding day and no one and nothing is to compromise this fact, it is extremely important to be thoughtful with the bridesmaid dress selection. Despite their understudy role in the day's events, bridesmaids still want to look attractive and feel pretty.  And the last thing the bride needs is disgruntled women who don't feel pretty standing up in front of friends and family and taking photos that will capture their resentment for all eternity.  Here are a few tips to consider when making the all important decision of what to put on the bridesmaids.

1. When initially selecting the wedding colors and/or theme, it is wise to take into account what the resulting color will be for the bridesmaid dresses.  Is this a color that is even available?  Will it make everyone in the bridal party look awful?  Be careful also that the color selected doesn't come in 50 different shades that will add a whole new layer of confusion to the process.

2. If your bridesmaids are paying for their own dresses, be sure to look at the cost of the dress before making the final decision.  Is the dress available on-line at a cheaper price? Is there a similar dress that is just as fitting, but costs less?  These are smart questions to ask to ensure that the dress doesn't break the bridesmaid's bank and create friction.

3. With our mobility around the country and world, it is very possible that several bridesmaids will be in other locations.  If this is the case, a dress that can be ordered on-line and then tailored locally, if necessary, will be the best scenario for a stress free bridesmaid interaction.

4. Allowing for bridesmaid input is optional, but wise with guidelines.  First, don't ask for input while dress shopping with all the bridesmaids.  This is more likely to create a mob mentality that could turn ugly very quickly.  Instead, ask each bridesmaid individually prior to going to look at dresses.  This will provide information that can be used while making the final decision during the shopping adventure.  Second and most important, do not give the idea to any bridesmaid that the bridesmaid dress decision is up in the air and open for discussion.  Input is one thing, but if bridesmaids have the false impression that they are in on the final decision, feelings could get hurt.

5. Many bridal parties today are full of different styles and sometimes even colors.  Don't be stuck on the notion that all the bridesmaids have to be in the exact same dress.  If there are several different body types, it may not even be wise to try and put all the bridesmaids in the same dress.  Consider a universal style, if keeping the one dress approach is on the agenda.

6. This last suggestion maybe the most important of all - Instruct all the bridesmaids to watch TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress - Bridesmaids" in order to see exactly how not to act!

Follow these steps to bridesmaid dress bliss!

At Occasions In Print we are all about helping create the first impression with the elegance and distinction that reflects your style and sensibility. Our Wedding Invitations, Birth Announcements, Stationery are of the highest quality and the greatest value. Each can be personalized and previewed. We offer fine stationery store quaility, but with low online prices. 

Monday, June 18, 2012

Purple Wedding Invitations from Occasions In Print

Purple is the color of kings and princes.  It is regal and elegant while allowing for whimsical details to flow from the choice of the actual shade of purple to the application for bridesmaids dresses, wedding cakes and of course Wedding Invitations.  Your Purple Wedding Invitation will set the stage for the royal wedding you are planning.  Occasions In Print has a beautiful array of purple wedding invitations.  Here are a few of our favorites.

Purple Wedding Invitation
Purple Wedding Invitation

Purple Wedding Invitation

Purple Wedding Invitation

Purple Wedding Invitation

Purple Wedding Invitation

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Traditions Worth Keeping and One Worth Adding

Weddings today are designed to celebrate the unique characteristics of the couple exchanging vows and to showcase their personalities.  Gone are the days when parents sat and outlined the wedding plans to the bride and groom to be. With this evolution has come the sentiment “Out with the old and in with the new.”  This overall is a great movement towards a more personalized and intimate affair for the bride and groom.  However, not all traditions should be tossed out with the past. Some should stand the test of time because of the memories they create.  Of course, at the end of the day, it is and should be completely up to the couple to decide what traditions stay and which go.  However, here at Occasions In Print, we have six traditions we believe should not be dismissed and one new idea that should be added as a standing tradition.

1.The groom should not see the bride before she walks down the aisle.  Now, at first glance this may seem extremely old fashion and full of superstition.  Keeping this as part of the wedding plan has nothing to do with superstition.  If the bride and groom do decide to see each other or because of logistics don’t have a choice, their marriage is not doomed.  Waiting to see each other is more about capturing the moment.  The first moment the groom sets eyes on his bride is pure heaven to witness.  And it is pure heaven for the bride and groom as well.  Best of all, this moment is captured with pictures and video. Don't give it up because it seems too traditional.  On the contrary, it is timeless.

2.Exchanging of the Rings.  There is a movement that says a man doesn’t have to wear a wedding ring if he doesn’t want to wear one.  It is an untouchable tradition that the woman wears a ring, so why is the man wearing a ring now up for negotiation?  The decision as to whether or not the man should wear one should of course, be between the couple.  However, ultimately, it should be up to the bride if she wants her soon to be husband to wear the golden band everyday.  If it isn’t something that is important to her then so be it.  But, if it is important then the man should wear it as a symbol of his marriage.

3.Walking down the aisle.  While some traditions may be silly and not at all relevant for today, the bride walking down the aisle is a beautiful part of the wedding ceremony that should be upheld.  This is the moment that all guest's and the groom's eyes fall upon the bride as she descends towards the group.  Most likely, her eyes won’t stray far from her husband-to-be and her radiance and love for him will be seen by all.  And let’s not kid ourselves, it is also a great opportunity for everyone to look at the gorgeous wedding dress for the first time!

4.Formal Wedding Pictures.  Wedding Photography today is often referred to as Wedding Journalism, meaning that the photographer moves about the ceremony and reception capturing moments of life that are not staged or planned.  There is beautiful work that comes from this approach.  However, don’t give up the formal portraits that bring the families, wedding party and bride and groom together.  Having these as part of the wedding history will seal in time those precious family members who were present and will capture the bond of the family.

5.Don’t forget to video.  Videography although new in comparison to most wedding traditions, is one component that has been added by couples and should continue to be a key part of the wedding planning.  The ability to go back and hear the exchange of vows, the toasts and the first dance is priceless.  In fact, if it is matter of choosing between videography and photography, videography captures the actual emotion of the wedding.  And, some videographers have the capability of capturing video frames for development as images and pictures.

6.Stick to Invitation Etiquette.  In today’s internet driven world, the advent of wedding websites is fun and a great way to showcase the wedding and all the events surrounding the ceremony.  However, it is still a personal and intimate affair and wedding invitations should reflect that as the introduction. Eliminating items such as the respond card and reception card and replacing it with a website address and RSVP instructions right on the invitations itself, sends the wrong message about the sophistication of the event. For all times the invitation which was thoughtfully crafted to reflect the love and affection felt between the couple will be trailed by a website address and RSVP instructions. Preserve the Wedding Invitation for the traditional verse that brings two families together and establishes plans for a beautiful wedding.  

At Occasions In Print we are all about helping create the first impression with the elegance and distinction that reflects your style and sensibility. Our Wedding Invitations, Birth Announcements and Stationery are of the highest quality and the greatest value. Each can be personalized and previewed. We offer fine stationery store quaility, but with low online prices.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Occasions In Print's Tips for Being a Good Wedding Guest

It may come as a surprise, but sometimes wedding guests don't behave as they should.  It isn't just Uncle Bob who visits the open bar to frequently and ends up hitting on all the bridesmaids, but other guests do a bit more subtle things before, during and after a wedding that result in them being labeled a good or bad guest.  Below are seven easy things a wedding guest can do to ensure that the bride and the groom remain thankful they sent an invite.

1. Respond Timely.  There is nothing worse for the bride and groom who are waiting everyday for a response card to come in the mail.  All plans hinge on the number of guests who will actually be attended their wedding.  If the budget is tight, it could even be a matter of what entree will be served at the reception or what dress to buy.  So, if you know the answer to the question of "Will you be attending," answer quickly and allow the bride and groom a bit of reprieve from the stress of planning their wedding.

2. Select a gift from the registry - do not go rogue.  Couples today are typically older and more established than in years past.  This means that most will have the basics to cook in the kitchen and operate in the bathroom.  What they have selected for their registry are items they really need or may just really want.  If a guest goes rogue and selects something believed to be needed/wanted by the bride and groom, the gift may end up being a duplication of something already found in their homes or even worse, could be something they have absolutely no use for.

3. Go to the Ceremony, not just the reception.  If the couple is getting married at one location and a few hours later is having the reception at a different location, always make an effort to attend the ceremony and not just the reception.  The invitation was for the ceremony and oh by the way, a party to celebrate "The Ceremony" will follow.  Skipping the ceremony just because it maybe the less appealing of the two events, is somewhat rude.  The bride and groom hold the ceremony portion of their day with understandable revere and all guests invited should do the same.

4. Honor the Invitation. Acknowledging the verbiage used in the invitation is one of the most important items on the list.  If it is addressed to just the guest and does not mention that another person can attend then respect their wishes and go solo.  Or, if the invitation is just addressed to Mr. and Mrs., do not assume it is a family event and RSVP that the kids will be attending as well.  I had a friend who sent out invitations correctly addressed to a couple who then sent back the RSVP with their children's names as well.  It was all the talk at the bridesmaids dress fitting appointment.  The bride could not believe how rude the couple had been by not respecting her wishes and including kids at her adult only wedding.  Ironically, years later, that same friend attended my adult only reception with her 9 month old baby.......

5. Whatever is asked of the guests at the reception, do it with gusto!  Part of the fun at a reception is always based on the participation and enthusiasm of the guests.  If the bride and groom ask for everyone to take pictures of the reception, make sure the cameras are flashing at every turn.  If the Macarena is played, get up and dance like it is the first Macarena ever played at a wedding reception.

6. Send a Thank you note.  This might sound odd since it was the bride and groom who got the presents, but the wedding invitations were sent as an invite to a celebration.  Typically dinner has been provided and dancing even. (Don't forget the Macarena advice from Tip 5)  If the ceremony and party were enjoyed, thank the couple.  It will not only be a surprise to them when they receive it, but it will let them know how much all their planning and effort paid off - Their wedding was enjoyed by all! 

7.  Last but not least, for the love of humanity - Put down those cell phones, IPad's and whatever else wasn't around 20 years ago!

Take these words of advice and the bride and groom will never regret the invitation.

At Occasions In Print, we are all about helping create the first impression with the elegance and distinction that reflects your style and sensibility. Our Wedding InvitationsBirth Announcements and Stationery are of the highest quality and the greatest value. Each can be personalized and previewed. We offer fine stationery store quaility, but with low online prices.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

2012 Wedding Invitation Trend - Color Foil Wedding Invitations

At the recent stationery show, one of the hottest trend designs was colored foiled wedding invitationsOccasions In Print has a beautiful array of wedding invitations with foils.  Not only the popular gold and silver, but also gorgeous red and even hot pink and green.  These eye catching foils along with our thermographic print will definitely make a great first impression when received by friends and family.  Here are just a few of our favorites.

Silver Foil Wedding Invitation

Silver Foil Wedding Invitation

Silver Foil Wedding Invitation

Hot Pink Foil Wedding Invitation

Gold Foil Wedding Invitation

Red Foil Wedding Invitation

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Wedding Colors - Aqua and Black from Occasions In Print

The striking and sophistication of Aqua and Black are perfect for any wedding.  Of course, the color theme to your wedding is set when you send out your Wedding InvitationsOccasions In Print has several invitations that will work beautifully with this color scheme.  There are also an endless array of options when it comes to the bridesmaids dresses and wedding cakes.  These days, a sash of color on the wedding dress is also a great way to tie colors together.  And of course, the Wedding Accessories styled in Aqua and Black will be the hit of the party at the reception.

 
 
 

Monday, June 4, 2012

Occasions In Print - 6 Simple Ways to Make Wedding Planning Easier

Everyone keeps an extremely busy schedule these days between work, social, and family commitments. Adding the stress of planning an event that you will play the main role in, can often seem overwhelming and if not handled properly, can end up becoming your worst nightmare instead of a memorable journey to your wedding day. Here are 6 simple ways that if followed, can lead to Wedding Day Bliss!

1. Manage Your Wedding Planning Time – Life does not stop because you are now planning a wedding. You will still find that you need to work to pay for this event as well as spend time with your future husband and keep up with friends and family. As a result, it is extremely important to set aside specific time each day or week to dedicate to wedding planning. Use your calendar to mark out this time and outline what you need to accomplish. This will create wedding planning/life balance that will help you stay sane. Realistically, no bride wants to be Bridezilla!
2. Research, Evaluate and Make the Decision! – In this day and age you will never run out of options for finding information about a particular area of your wedding. Between the internet, magazines and bridal shows, you should gather more than enough information. This can be good, but it can also be extremely overwhelming and may leave you wondering, “What is the right choice?” Remember your theme, colors and budget when researching and evaluating your options. Once you have narrowed the field, make the decision. The clock is always ticking closer towards the big day and the more decisive you are, the less overwhelmed you will feel and more you will accomplish.
3. Know Your Budget and Stick to It! – We have all seen the shows where the princess bride spends without regard and shrugs her shoulders saying, “Oh well, it is what I want and I don’t care how much it costs.” The part of the show they don’t show us is the aftermath- when the big day is over and bride and groom are in debt up to their bottoms, can’t afford a house, and are now living in the basement of his parent’s house trying to figure out how to make ends meet. Save yourself the stress that will surely come if you go overboard and over budget.
4. Don’t be Afraid to Delegate – This burden does not have to be all on you. There are tasks and activities that you can delegate to trusted family or friends or even your fiancĂ©. This is especially true for brides who are getting married in another town and are trying to travel between two cities to plan a wedding. Decide which tasks can realistically be handled by someone other than you. For example, when I got married, I delegated the task of Wedding Programs to my sister. She is creative and responsible, and the end result was fabulous! I never had to worry about it and she was thrilled to help contribute to my day.
5. Be Confident – Something Will Go Wrong! – Every bride believes her wedding will be the one to break with tradition and have absolutely nothing go wrong. My cousin believed this to be true. She bragged for months after her wedding about the fact that every detail she had planned went off without a hitch and she expected others to follow her guidance to achieve the same outcome. I give her kudos for fessing up a year later, after all this bragging, that her marriage license had never been signed by the minister nor filed properly in the state where she was married. Oops! Something will go wrong! It is inevitable. But, how you handle it will dictate how everyone else handles it.
6. Send Out Save The Date Cards – About 90% of couples are now wisely sending out Save the Date Cards. Most families are spread out across the country today and the invention of social networking has given us the ability to connect with old friends as well as keep up with people living practically anywhere. Giving people a heads up six to nine months before your big day will allow for two things: First, it will allow them to mark their calendars and make the appropriate arrangements. Second, it will allow you the opportunity to have a realistic sense of how many people will be attending your wedding. Word of caution – Don’t send out Save the Dates cards before the guest list is finalized! I had a friend who did this and when her dad gave her the final number she could invite, it was less then the number of Save the Date cards she had already sent out. It was extremely awkward for her and feelings got hurt.

At Occasions In Print, we offer the same quality, style and distinction that one can find in the finest stationery stores. Our ability to offer elegant invitations at such a great price is due to our low overhead business model. We pass the savings along to brides with discounts that offer invitations at half the price of stores. Contact us, mention this article and you’ll receive an additional 10% off your Save the Date Cards as well as your Wedding Invitations.